HC Deb 14 June 1928 vol 218 cc1158-60
35. Mr. ROBINSON

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a man with two second-hand lorries engaged in the transport of live stock and goods has had to pay on an average 27s. a week for Petrol Tax; and if he will consider the abolition of the tax on petrol used for commercial purposes?

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER (Mr. Churchill)

I regret that I cannot see my way to adopt the hon. Member's suggestion, which would entail the reduction of the yield of the duty by about two-thirds.

37. Mrs. RUNCIMAN

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware of the fact that large numbers of the inshore fishermen round the coast of Britain use petrol and not kerosene in their motor fishing boats; and whether, seeing that Notice 171 concerning the Hydrocarbon Oil Duty of 1928 provided for a rebate for fishermen and that the subsequent Notice 171a withdrew the rebate, he will consider the exemption of the fishing industry from the Petrol Duty when petrol is used for the purpose of fishing?

Mr. CHURCHILL

My information is not in accordance with the suggestion in the first part of the question. As regards the rest of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave on the 12th June to questions on the subject asked by the hon. Members for Grimsby (Mr. Womersley) and Lowestoft (Mr. Rentoul).

39. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHY

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he can give any approximate figures of the annual consumption of kerosene and petrol, respectively, by British fishing vessels; and any estimate of the tax which will be levied under the new petrol duties on the fishing industry in respect of vessels used for fishing in a full year?

Mr. CHURCHILL

I regret that I am unable to give the figures for which the hon. and gallant Member asks, but I am satisfied that the quantity of petrol used in the fishing industry is very small in relation to the quantity of kerosene, which is duty-free.

Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHY

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether it is possible before the discussion on the Finance Bill is resumed for this information to be obtained from the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries or from the Board of Trade, as the House should have this information in view of the interests concerned?

Mr. CHURCHILL

I think this matter had better be reserved for discussion on the Bill.

Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHY

The right hon. Gentleman has sources of information which are not open to the ordinary Members of the House, and I am sure that it will be well for us to have the information.

Mr. CHURCHILL

I am advised that it is very difficult to get the actual details.

Mr. MACLEAN

The right hon. Gentleman's reply now states that it is difficult to obtain details of the quantities of kerosene that are used. How, therefore, has he good ground for refusing this concession?

Mr. E. BROWN

Has the right hon. Gentleman taken the trouble to verify the fact that since his answer on the 12th June this will affect 2,000 motor fishing vessels in England and Wales and another 2,000 in Scotland, and ought we not to have these figures in order to debate the question adequately when it comes up again?

Mr. CHURCHILL

I am advised that the amount will not be appreciable. That is what I am advised, and that is the decision on which I rest pending rebuttal by competent persons in the course of the later Debates which no doubt we shall have.

Mr. BROWN

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that while it is true that most of these boats use petrol with which to start their engines and that kerosene is used for driving, when engines fail and when there is difficulty with the engines, they have to revert to the use of petrol with which to run them?

Mr. RUNCIMAN

Cannot the right hon. Gentleman obtain information from the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries which will show that a large number of the engines fitted in the inshore fishing boats—what is the exact number no one can tell—are for the use of petrol and not for the use of kerosene, which he himself pointed out to the House does damage to certain types of motor engines?

Mr. CHURCHILL

I think that this had much better be debated on the Committee stage of the Finance Bill.